Illegal mining activity on the rise
Various stakeholders have recently visited the sites known to be used by illegal miners.
Various stakeholders, including DA Ward 88 Clr Wollaston Labuschagne and Nigel customer care centre manager Fortune Mahano recently visited areas apparently used for illegal mining activities.
This comes after some of the safety patrol groups within the Nigel community informed the stakeholders of the illegal mining activities.
“It seems that the Zama Zamas are using old mining tunnels,” Labuschagne explained.
“One of the sites we visited was the old mine shaft by the taxi rank and the other was at the Nigel Wild Reserve. The local safety patrol groups noticed the Zama Zamas camping by the entrance to the tunnel in the reserve.”
The site visit confirmed that these illegal mining activities are still happening in town and are also increasing.
“It would seem that the tunnels used by the Zama Zamas run underneath the wild reserve towards Balfour Road,” Labuschagne said.
“My thoughts are that the local community safety patrols and structures should monitor the activities to relay the information to the SAPS.
“I will continue to reach out to these structures to establish improvement and co-operation with each other and with the SAPS.”
